Cradle of cast system in kashmiri culture

  CRADLE OF CASTS IN KASHMIR 

         (©By Seerat khan)

Recreation &graphics by shariqamaryamk.

Equality is something that has a universal appeal. Kashmir is a state known for its hospitality and humanity but when it comes to "CASTE" people forget everything and embrace caste over humanity,religion etc.

Stratification on the basis of the caste, a system which is very close to what Hinduism believes in.  Here in Kashmir caste doesn't come between play, colleagues, friends, neighbours. But when it comes to marriage "casteism" prevails.

"CASTE" OR "ZAAT" is a surname either prefixed or used as a suffix to ones's name. Largely suffix.

In kashmir cast can be categorised into three groups

Higher castes, occupational casts and lower castes/ service castes.

Higher castes as the name suggests are considered to be at the top. The higher caste people make their own clan refusing to mingle with other castes. Then followed by the occupational castes. These casts are put at number two in the caste hierarchy. At last are the service castes. People belonging to service castes are put at the bottom and people belonging to other two castes never tie a knot with this class.

©sherryk.

 As mentioned above when it comes to marriage casteism prevails. I wonder when Allah had created all of us equally who are we to discriminate on any basis. We say that we are modern people. Modernity doesn't mean to change our way of  dressing or changing our fashion sense. That's westernization not modernization. Modernity begins with ideas.

Living in 21st century where we have trillions of sources to enlighten our selves but we prefer to keep ourselves in darkness. Living in a world where it is easy to learn but we still propagate the idea of caste. We look down upon people belonging to service castes.

In kashmir it is so common to use terms like, "Aaseel" "kameen" Aaseel subjected to higher and occupational caste and kameen to service caste. For heaven's sake we need to introspect. Seriously! We use the word "kameen"  for service castes. I question you all what makes them KAMEEN? First of all this division is wrong and can't be justified in any sense. And even if we are dividing what is a fault of a human belonging to a service caste?  

When someone behaves rudely we say, "ye chu zan haanj" "he must be a "hanji" why do we set parameters like these? Can't a "haanji" be noble, righteous? And Can't a syed be deviated? There are thousands of cases where people have been victim of casteism. Marriage is a sacred bond. Allah has directed us to marry to a person who is righteous and see his/her level of "deen". But what we do we see financial status, caste, and what not. Needless to mention when we start finding a match, the idea of AASEEL AND KAMEEN can't be neglected. We say; "YEEM CHE KAMEEN AES KATI KARAV AATi" Its fine to look for  financial security but what does an idea of caste has to do with a person's righteousness. I know a person who wants to marry a girl belonging to "Hanji" family. The girl is pious, religious but the only barrier for marrying is that guy belongs to syed family and they can't tie knot into a hanji family. Why on earth do we follow what Allah hasn't told us but we do that is totally against our religion, against humanity. Why do we forget that we are all humans. We breathe the same air, live on the same earth. If Allah didn't discriminate who are we to call someone  inferior? Castesim is one of the cases of late marraiges. not only late marriages but other evils as well.

My question to you all is that does our religion propagate the idea of caste?

We treat people belonging to service castes as if they are sinners, as if Allah has strictly forbidden marriages into such castes. Are we really muslims? I question myself and everyone are we even humans? This reminds me of Mehjoor's famous lines; "shaklee chus insaan magar, insaniyat nesh bay khabar" 

We need to change this idea. Our parents, our elders may or may not understand but we are young we can change and if we change now, we can help our posterity from falling into this trap.

May sense prevail and may Allah guide us.

The Excuse!Most of we thing if we go for outer caste marriage what will our relatives think...."hmm panaie chun kormut,or emis asii ni koun jayii sedani ....wan koruk compromise....hehh ends cha haslat naraan neen??? Aray wait karay us ma b problem ..out of cast jaya tab b problem. Kari ti karii kay kouri moul?

    Agar wazwanas ek nati phol ti kam gachak na tahthie gachak keeni😒 Ialso Tried to find answers from our hadith..but notthing like this mentioned there... Sirf bozum allah talah chuna seen paygambar(pbuh) qureshi family menzii anmith...gov caste matters????? 😲😕

Some ELITE CLASS OF KASHMIR SOCIETY :SYED> Qadri> soharwardy> Chisti> Kubravi>Naqshbandi 🤷🏻

    Tum Syed b ,Qadri b ,chisti b,suharwardi b..

 " Kin qulooo main uljay hoon

  Insaan ho khuda banay ki kyun koshish kartay hoon

  Jab bananay walay nay koi farak nahi ki

 Tum kyun Syed Ki tashbi kartay hoon

 Mitti hoon mitti  main hee girnay dooo........ek 2gaz ki zameen main sab KO meetnay doo...kyun mullah mullah firtay hoo.bus jeenay doo mujay jeenay do..©sherryk.